Colette Manion

Consultant

The Serious Bit

Having recently settled in Sydney, Colette has joined Stopgap with a mix of marketing and recruitment experience.

A true fashionista at heart, Colette graduated from Manchester University with a 2.1 in Fashion and Textile Retailing. During her degree, she set up her own business and quickly turned the theory from her degree into a successful fashion business.

After building her reputation within the market, she was able to establish herself as a freelance branding and marketing consultant across a range of industries including beauty, housing and legal. After a good run on her own, Colette combined her experience of sales and marketing and took on a role as a digital recruitment specialist. Here she was able to combine her passion for marketing and business yet after one of her freelance clients had a demand in house, she jumped at the chance to work as essentially ‘the marketing department’ for the niche data and research firm. Thriving on the fast paced and challenging role, she quickly progressed and began taking on an advisory role for the companies’ clients. This saw her lead a range of market research projects as well as reviewing and advising companies how to build their marketing departments and communications effectively.

She has now brought her experience to her role at Stopgap where she finds superstar recruits in the B2B, property, membership bodies and professional and financial services sectors.

The Fun Bit

When I was little I wanted to be...

Once I got over my years of wanting a simple life as a butterfly, I spent most of my childhood channeling my inner Vivienne Westwood (she is from my hometown) by wanting to become a full time fashion designer. My first collection resulted in a number of loo roll dresses, and washing up liquid handbags. Safe to say, it didn’t take off!

My first job ever was...

Running a small local gym – no pun intended!

The most daring thing I've ever done is...

It may well be the old cliché but moving to Australia. For a while everyone thought I was a bit crazy when I announced I wanted to give up a great job, snazzy car and swanky apartment for a life riding a surfboard and sharing a room with my 9-year old cousin. But it is without a doubt the best thing I have ever done.

In my spare time you can find me...

As the token vegan in the team and an avid cook, I am typically whipping up a vegan delight or… attempting to surf – I am getting better!

The brand I am most passionate about is…

The androgynous French fashion brand The Kooples is definitely up there. Not only do they do amazing Brit pop inspired clothing, their sleek advertising campaigns feature ridiculously cool couples telling their story of how long they have been a ‘Koople’. It is a sure fire way to hook you straight into ‘The Kooples’ lifestyle.

Manly based content marketing agency is looking for a master wordsmith/skilled journo/content manager who can bring passion and ideas to produce engaging content across a wealth of of key industries. Possibility of moving to a perm role.